It is therefore not surprising that many superstitious notions, such as have been recorded in the preceding stories, should be found in civilized nations. Moreover, in some countries, a more careful research into the old traditions harbouring among the uneducated classes of the people has been made, than in other countries. It would, therefore, be hasty, from the sources at present accessible, to judge of the degree of mental development attained by individual nations. The Germans are not less rational than the English; nevertheless, a far greater number of Fairy Tales have been collected in Germany than in England. An enquiry into the musical traditions of the different European races is likely to increase in interest the more we turn to the mythological conceptions originally derived from Central Asia, and dispersed throughout Europe at a period on which history is silent, but upon which some light has been thrown by recent philological and ethnological researches. A word remains to be said on the musical myths of modern date. We read in the biographies of our celebrated musicians facts which would almost certainly be regarded as fictions, were they not well authenticated. On the other hand, it would not be difficult to point out modern myths referring to the art of music. Tempting as it might be to cite the most remarkable examples of this kind, and anecdotes relating to musicians in which fiction is strangely mingled with fact, it is unnecessary to notice them here; for, are they not written in our works on the history of the art and science of music? [Illustration] [67] 'Griechische und Albanische Maerchen, gesammelt von J. G. v. Hahn.' Leipzig, 1864; Vol. I., p. 273. [68] See above, Vol. I., p. 84. [69]'Old Deccan Days; or Hindu Fairy Legends, current in Southern India.' Collected from oral tradition by M. Frere. London, 1868; p. 25. [70] 'Popular Tales from the Norse, translated by G. W. Dasent.' Edinburgh, 1859; p. 27. [71] 'Sagen, Maerchen und Lieder der Herzogthuemer Schleswig, Holstein und Lauenburg,' von Karl Muellenhoff; Kiel, 1845; p. 336. [72] 'Aberglaube und Sagen aus dem Herzogthum Oldenburg, herausgegeben von Strackerjan;' Oldenburg, 1867; Vol. I., p. 190. [73] 'Aberglaube and Sagen aus dem Herzogthum Oldenburg, herausgegeben von Strackerjan;' Oldenburg, 1867; Vol. I., p. 375. [74] 'Griechische und Albanische Maerchen, gesammelt von J. G. v. Hahn;' Leipzig, 1864; Vol. I., p. 222, and Vol. II., p. 240. [75] 'Wallachische Maerchen, herausgegeben von A. Schott;' Stuttgart, 1845, p. 228. [76] Aix-la-Chapelle. [77] 'Deutsche Maerchen and Sagen, gesammelt von J. W. Wolf.' Leipzig, 1845; p. 472. [78] 'Niederlaendische Sagen, herausgegeben von J. W. Wolf;' Leipzig, 1843; p. 466. [79] 'Niederlaendische Sagen, herausgegeben von J. W. Wolf;' Leipzig, 1843; p. 648. [80] _Taters_ is evidently synonymous with _Tartars_.